REVIEW OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 August 1939, Page 7

REVIEW OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH JAPAN

Recognition of the Situation in North China PROTEST AGAINST ANTI-BRITISH AGITATION UNITED KINGDOM STANDING BY NINEPOWER TREATY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 1. The progress so far made in the Tokio negotiations regarding Tientsin was reviewed in the House of Commons by the Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr R. A. Butler. He said that agreement was nearing completion on certain points connected with police matters, and that these had been reported home for consideration. Burt her economic and other considerations were part of the future programme. In regard to police matters, he said, they had decided, by accepting the formula, to recognise the situation ol l<ict and agree'lo maintain an attitude ol impartiality in ceitain day-to-day contacts in a defined area and in certain circumstances. This altitude of recognising the situation of fact in areas occupied by -Japanese troops was the wisest policy in the interest of' British nationals and of future British policy in the Far East. There had been certain agitation in North China, most oI: it organised, they believed, by -Japanese. Two British warships had been sent to the Tsingfao area and strong representations had been made to -Japan. Japan must appreciate the force of feeling in. the House of Commons on this matter. He trusted that they would realise that no negotiations or discussions could prevent the relations between the two countries growing steadily more difficult unless this type of agitation wa.s ended. The Government, he said, in conclusion, stood by T the principles of the Nine-Power Treaty and had done more for the Chinese currency than any other Government.